Zumba class will be one of this weekend's activities at the 2013 Latin Festival on Churchill Square in Edmonton

A Guinness World Record attempt will kick off the fourth annual Edmonton Latin Festival this weekend.

Saturday’s opening ceremony at Churchill Square will launch with a zumbathon that will aim to break the record for the world’s largest zumba class. The festival will also take donations for the Alberta Cancer Foundation at the zumbathon, which is dubbed Shake it for the Cure.

The current world record was set last year by 6,671 people in Hyderabad, India.

“It’s going to be a tough one, but it’s possible,” says festival organizer Daiana Moy Sanchez. “I know 30,000 people can fit on that square.”

The fourth annual festival, hosted by the Edmonton Hispanic Cultural Society, will feature live Latin orchestras, singers and dancers, including champion salsa and ballroom performers. Latin Dance classes will also be offered.

Among the musical acts will be Grupo Cubano Brisas Del Palmar, a highly sought-after Cuban band that is hired by the government to play at Havana’s Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

“The live music is as good as any jazz festival, as good as the folk fest; this is the quality of musicians that we’ve got. And you get it for free, you don’t have to pay a thing,” Moy Sanchez says.

“Our goal is to provide free entertainment, a way of celebrating Hispanic heritage, and giving people an opportunity to come out with their families.”

A kids corner at the festival will have activities like face painting, arts and crafts, and a children’s karaoke station. Sanchez, who is from Colombia, says it’s tradition for Latin adults to celebrate with their kids.

Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Peru will be among the many countries represented at the festival, which runs through Sunday.

Moy Sanchez says the weekend attendance is typically around 5,000, but numbers aren’t important as long as everyone has fun.

“Even if there’s just 30 people out there and they’re dancing and having fun, we’re happy with that.”